Pressure on land in western urbanized societies is increasing. Conflicts arise from incompatibility in land use in different socio-economic and environmental systems leading to undesirable social, economic and environmental impacts. Examples of these are the loss of life and property through river flooding following deforestation, the drainage of wetlands and floodplain embankments, conflicts between housing and economic land use, the loss of biodiversity following the fragmentation of ecological habitats by urbanization and transport infrastructure, and deterioration in the quality of life. The aim of this conference is to identify (potential) land use changes in western urbanized countries, and the conflicts which may arise from these changes. The central themes of the conference are the integration of knowledge on land use dynamics from different disciplines and the application of that knowledge to spatial planning in western urbanized countries.
Theoretical, methodological and practical viewpoints will be shared from such disciplines as the environmental and social sciences, housing and transport, planning and integrated modelling. Discussions are planned between academics, policymakers and planners to reveal ways of enhancing the integration of scientific knowledge in spatial planning aimed at sustainable development.
Organization
- Utrecht University, Faculty of Geographical Sciences
- RIVM: National Institute of Public Health and the Environment
- RPB: National Spatial Planning Agency
- LUCC: Land Use and Land Cover Change Project of the IGBP and IHDP